ROCHESTER, Minn. - Grinnell College's softball team opened its 2017 campaign Saturday night against a pair of tough Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foes.

In the opener, Grinnell battled on even terms before falling 2-1 to Macalester College. The Pioneers followed with a 7-0 loss to Gustavus Adolphus College, a team receiving votes for the national rankings.

It was a tight battle with Macalester the whole way through. Melissa Anderson '18 had a stellar pitching performance, scattering four hits and yielding just one earned run while fanning one batter.

Macalester struck first with a run in the first, but the Pioneers answered with one run in the bottom of the fourth when Mikyla Murphy '19 singled to center with one out, took second on a groundout and crossed the plate on Sidney Litke's '19 double to left-center field. 

Megan Gibson '17 followed with a walk, but the runners were left stranded. Macalester scored in the top of the fifth and hung on for the win.

Besides Murphy and Litke, Kayla Morrissey '18 provided Grinnell's other hit.

Despite getting shut out by Gustavus Adolphus, the Pioneers pounded out seven hits including two singles by Sage Juveland '17 and a double by Andi Leff '18. Other hits were singles by Lydia Stariha '17, Morrissey, Murphy and Litke.

Grinnell's early-season defense was strong all day, as the Pioneers committed just three errors in the two games combined.

The Pioneers are off until spring break.